Zygomycosis: an uncommon cause for peripheral facial palsy in diabetes

• Published in: Diabetes & metabolism 2007-06, Vol.33 (3), p.227-229
• Main Authors: Meas, T, Mouly, S, Kania, R, Hervé, D, Herman, P, Kévorkian, J.P, Virally, M, Laloi-Michelin, M, Médeau, V, Guillausseau, P.J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amphotericin B; Amphotéricine B; Biological and medical sciences; Diabetes Complications - diagnosis; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diabète sucré; Ear, auditive nerve, cochleovestibular tract, facial nerve: diseases, semeiology; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinology & Metabolism; Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Facial palsy; Facial Paralysis - diagnostic imaging; Facial Paralysis - etiology; Fungi; Human mycoses; Humans; Infectious diseases; Internal Medicine; Medical sciences; Mucormycose; Mucormycosis; Mycoses; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Nervous system as a whole; Neurology; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Paralysie faciale périphérique; Phycomycoses; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Traitement; Treatment; Tropical mycoses; Zygomycosis - diagnosis; Zygomycosis - diagnostic imaging
• ISSN: 1262-3636; 1878-1780
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diabet.2006.12.001

Abstract Mucormycosis is an emerging fungal infection with a high rate of mortality. Diabetic and immuno-compromised patients are the most frequent hosts. We report a case of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis revealed by facial palsy in a diabetic, immuno-compromised patient with difficult life conditions. He received intravenous antifungal treatment (amphotericin B) and early surgical debridement and completely recovered with no recurrence after 3 months of follow-up. Physicians should be aware of such atypical clinical presentations due to the need for early appropriate combined medical and surgical management to improve disease recovery and prognosis.